Mike Tyson’s AEW appearance did not just fall into place—and Nick LoPiccolo says he was the man working behind the scenes to make it happen.
LoPiccolo opened up about his past dealings with AEW in a lengthy social media statement, revealing that he negotiated Tyson’s appearance with former AEW executive Chris Peck.
The appearance took place during the April 7, 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite in Atlantic City, where Tyson returned as a special guest commentator. According to LoPiccolo, getting the boxing icon onto the show required far more work than anyone watching at home would have known.
LoPiccolo said he personally handled the negotiations, but he was stunned when AEW sent over what he described as an extremely basic contract that did not match Tyson’s status.
“There was a time after Mike Tyson did the appearance—I think it was for Dynamite in Atlantic City—and I ended up negotiating that with Chris Peck. I could not have been less impressed with Chris Peck.”
LoPiccolo claimed the contract was so rough that he either had to rewrite it or draft the entire agreement himself. He said it looked more like paperwork meant for a minor performer than one of the most famous athletes on the planet.
“I think I had to rewrite—I think I had to draft the entire contract myself because it was just absolutely bizarre. It was like a one- or two-page contract, and it was for a day player or some minor, minor talent template.”
He did not hold back when describing the quality of the agreement AEW initially provided.
“It was not something at the level or sophistication of a name like Mr. Tyson. It was chicken scratch.”
The contract was only one part of the problem. LoPiccolo said he also had to get directly involved with Tyson’s transportation, hotel and other arrangements because he did not believe AEW had anyone properly handling those details. That forced him to work closely with Tony Khan’s manager, Bernie Cahill, throughout the weekend to make sure Tyson’s appearance went smoothly.
“I ended up having to text and do all these things with Bernie Cahill directly. We texted throughout the weekend to make sure the car service, hotel and the other things were smooth because there was no one at AEW who was going to do it.”
While LoPiccolo ripped AEW’s handling of the situation, he gave Cahill credit for stepping in when things needed to get done.
“By the way, to Bernie’s credit, he stepped in. He was very, very helpful and accommodating.”
LoPiccolo said the Tyson deal happened before he began representing WWE talent. At the time, he was hoping the appearance could help him build a stronger working relationship with AEW and possibly lead to additional celebrity deals.
“At that time, too, this was before I signed any WWE clients. I was hopeful to build a relationship and see what could be done there.”
A month or two after Tyson’s appearance, LoPiccolo said he joined a Zoom meeting with Cahill, Tony Khan and another Paradigm representative to discuss what other opportunities might be possible.
“I did get on a Zoom after the fact, a month or two later, with Bernie. I had a Zoom with Bernie, Tony Khan and another member of my agency. I had set it up with Bernie to potentially see what more could have been done—not just with Mike Tyson.”
LoPiccolo said the meeting was directly connected to Tyson’s appearance, which he believes was the boxer’s final AEW appearance.
“It was off the heels of whatever appearance Mike had done, and I don’t know how many years ago this was. Whatever appearance Mike made for AEW in Atlantic City—it was the last appearance Mike did, I believe, in AEW.”
The meeting did not leave much of an impression on him. LoPiccolo described the Zoom call as awkward and said he was unsure whether Khan even understood why everyone had gathered for the conversation. He made it clear that was only his personal read of the situation and admitted that video calls can sometimes make it difficult to judge someone’s energy or intentions.
“It was just a weird phone call, and I don’t really get the sense that Tony knew why he was there on the call.”
“Again, I’m not trying to defame anything. This is my own perception of that call. It could just be social awkwardness. I’ve got a bit of anxiety sometimes. I don’t like being on Zoom calls.”
“There are different people’s energies, but there wasn’t a—it didn’t click, right?”
Tyson’s appearance looked simple on television, but LoPiccolo’s version of events paints a much messier picture. He says he negotiated the deal, fixed the contract and helped keep the logistics from falling apart before Tyson ever stepped into the building.
These are LoPiccolo’s claims about how the appearance came together, and AEW, Tony Khan, Chris Peck and Bernie Cahill have not publicly responded to his version of events.
Do you think Nick LoPiccolo deserves more credit for bringing Mike Tyson back to AEW, or does AEW have a different side to the story? Leave your feedback in the comments.
